Apparatus for assembling veneer barrels.



W. G. CUMMINGS.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENEER BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1911.

1,020,687. Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

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l'J'NITED srarnsparnn'r OFFICE.

WALTER G. CUMMINGS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATHAN HEARD, TRUSTEE, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING- VENEER BARRELS.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WALTER C. CUM- MINGS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Assembling Veneer Barrels, of which the following de scription, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for assembling a veneer barrel.

It is possible now to obtain commercially at reasonable cost sheets of veneer of suitable thickness for barrels, and this apparatus is particularly designed for the handling of such sheets of veneer. These sheets when to be made into a barrel are cut of a width equal to the height of the barrel and of a length equal to the greatest circumference of the barrel. The longitudinal edges are chimed and beveled and then at suitable intervals gores are cut in the sheets from the longitudinal edges in toward the center. The ends of the sheet are finished off in a similar manner. These gores and the finishing of the edges remove suflicient material so that when the sheet of veneer is brought into cylindrical form with its ends abutting and the edges now in circular form are pressed together radially toward the center the sheet will assume the form of a barrel tightly closed throughout its circumference. The present invention provides an apparatus by means of which such a sheet of veneer may be brought into the form of a barrel and secured in such form by fastening the hoops therearound and the inclosing of a head within one of the ends.

The invention is not limited, however, to the particular material or particular form of material from which the barrel is formed.

The invention also involves a number of details in the apparatus which will be pointed out in the description.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly defined by the appended claims.

The drawings show a preferred form of apparatus adapted for the assembling of a one-sheet veneer barrel.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus in closed form; Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 639,573.

2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan view partially in cross section showing the apparatus in open form; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus in its open form; Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of one end of the apparatus in its open form.

The apparatus comprises a series of what may be termed formers, each of which is of generally similar shape and construction, and each of which has its face shaped to conform to a vertical section of the outside of the finished barrel. These formers are arranged in a series so that they may be extended out into a longitudinal strip or may be brought; together into cylindrical form, and for this purpose they are preferably hinged together or connected by flexible connectors.

In closed position it is desirable that the faces of the formers shall form a continuous surface, thus opposing a surface to the entire exterior surface of the finished barrel except at points such as those where the staves are to be fastened together. This secures the best results but it is not essential that the faces of the formers when in closed position shall present an entirely closed surface, because the veneer or barrel material may be su'l'liciently supported otherwise.

The number of formers will vary somewhat according to the size of the barrel and the material used, but for the ordinary sized barrel with veneer of the thickness of the usual barrel it is preferable to use about the number shown in the drawings.

The formers are indicated at 1 and in the construction shown, wherein the formers when in closed position present a continuous surface opposed to the surface of the finished barrel, have the shape illustrated in the drawings; that is to say, the rear portion of each former has a substantially rectangular vertical cross section throughout, while the front portion, beginning at the center or bilge portion and extending toward both ends, projects inwardly and has its sides converging inwardly, and also toward the ends, as will be seen more particularly by an examination of Figs. 3, 4L, and 5, wherein 2 represents the cross section of the rear portion and 3 the front portion.

Each former is provided in its face with a plurality of transverse grooves 4, the

grooves in each former being alined with those in the others and these grooves are adapted to receive the strips which form the barrel hoops 5.

The formers are provided at each end with gripping heads 6 rigidly connected therewith as by means of the bolts 7 and projecting forwardly from the face of the formers. These gripping heads are suitably formed on their inner or opposing faces to receive and hold the longitudinal edges of the veneer, and, as illustrated grooves 8 are formed transversely of the heads to receive and hold the edges of the veneer in the first place. These heads project sufiiciently forward so that the edges of the veneer may also seat against the heads in the rear of the grooves 8.

The formers are flexibly connected together by means of straps 9 of leather or other suitable material secured in place in the vertical plane of the rear portion For this purpose slots are cut into the ends of the formers to receive the straps 9. The end members of the series of formers are provided on their sides with end clamps 10 and these end clamps are extensibly mounted in the form shown, being carried by springs 11. One end of each spring is fastened at 12 to the side of the former and the other end is slotted and fits over a pin 13 in the side of the former, thus enabling the end clamp 10 to move toward and from the former.

l/Vhen the series of formers are brought together in closed position it is necessary to leave a space between the end members of the series to expose the ends of the hoop strips and allow them to be fastened together. To maintain the form of the barrel at this space closing blocks are provided, and for that purpose two such blocks 14 are illustrated. These blocks are concaved on their face to conform to the exterior of the finished barrel and are preferably secured to one of the end members of the series of formers by the same means, viz., the straps 9 which secure the several formers together.

The series of formers are brought into closed position and the end members secured together to inclose the barrel in its completed form by suitable means which may be varied according to circumstances and according to whether the operation is performed by hand or by power. As a suitable means therefor the straps 15 are illustrated. These straps may be secured at intervals to the formers and the ends are provided with suitable fastening means such as the buckles 16.

The series of formers is preferably secured in a fixed upright position and for that purpose the central member 17 may be rigidly secured to the floor and to a vertical Wallas indicated in Fig. 4, and asthere shown this member is made somewhat longer in the direction of the former for that purpose, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. This member may also be braced by transverse braces 18 as shown in Fig. 2.

To enable the ends of the hoops to be fastened together an anvil 19 is employed and it is shown as an upright block secured to the floor and having its face conforming to the interior surface of the finished barrel. It is made of such a size that the hoops may be riveted or nailed against it. It is also preferably made of such a height as to en able it to hold the barrel head in position, the head for that purpose being simply placed upon the top of the anvil with its periphery in line with the chime.

It is desirable that the several formers shall have a uniform movement as they come together and shape the barrel, especially since the formers at their upper ends slide over the edge of the veneer. To secure this uniform movement a construction of lazytongs is employed. The lazy-tongs shown at 20 have the series of pivots 21 at one edge mounted directly in the several formers, while the series of pivots 22 at the opposite edge are mounted to slide longitudinally in slots 23 in the formers.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The series of formers is extended in open position, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5, being held vertically upright by the central former 17. The hoop strips 5 are then laid in the transverse grooves 4 with their ends projecting. The sheet of veneer, indicated in dotted lines at 24 in Fig. 5 and which, as hereinbefore stated, is gored at its opposite edges and has its free edges properly shaped to abut when closed, is laid against the face of the open series of formers. It is then pressed inwardly at its bilge portion so that the edges slant in beneath the gripping heads 7 and the end clamps 10 are brought over the free edges. The veneer will be snapped first into the grooves 6 of the gripping heads and then back beneath the base of the gripping heads into the position shown in Fig. 3. The barrel head. is placed in position on top of the anvil 9 with its edge in the plane of the chime in the veneer. The series of formers is then brought gradually into closed or cylindrical position, forcing the veneer into the shape of the barrel. As the end members of the series come together the straps 15 are buckled up over the closing blocks 14:, the end clamps 10 are then removed from the edges of the veneer and suflicient pressure is applied to close the edges of the veneer. together and. bring the barrel into closed form. When in this position the hoop strips will have their ends overlapping as shown in Fig. 1

and may then be secured together by suitable.

fastening means against the anvil 19. The

barrel is now completely formed and held together by the hoops and the forming apparatus may be released therefrom. Upon the release of the forming apparatus the barrel may be lifted off from the anvil, the head in one end fast in place, and the barrel complete and ready for use.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of the barrel, and means for holding a gored sheet of veneer in place against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position.

2. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of the barrel, transverse grooves in the faces of the formers for supporting hoop strips, and means for holding a gored sheet of veneer in place against the faces of the seriesof formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position.

3. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of'the barrel, transverse grooves in the faces of the formers. for supporting hoop strips, means for holding a gored sheet of veneer in place against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and dun ing their movement into closed position, and means for supporting the ends of the hoop strips for fastening when in closed position.

4:. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of the barrel, transverse grooves in the faces of the formers for supporting hoop strips, means for holding a gored sheet of veneer in place against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position, and closing blocks having faces conforming to the barrel exterior for connecting the end members of the series when in closed position and leaving a space therebetween to expose the ends of the hoop strips to be fastened.

5. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a sur face conforming to the exterior of the barrel, means for holding a gored sheet of veneer in place against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position, and lazy-tongs having one edge series of pivots mounted in the several formers and the other edge series of pivots slidingly mounted in the several formers whereby a sin'iultaneous and uniform movement of the several formers is secured.

6. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each longitudinally concave on its face to conform to a section of the exterior of the finished barrel, means for flexibly securing the said formers together, means for holding a gored sheet of veneer against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position.

7. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each longitudinally concave on its face to conform to a section of the exterior of the finished barrel, means for flexibly securing the said formers together, each former at its face converging in width from its center to its ends, and means for holding a gored sheet of veneer against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their move ment into closed position.

8. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each longitudinally concave on its face to conform to a section of the exterior of the finished barrel, means for flexibly securing the said formers together, each former at its face converging in width from its center to its ends, a plurality of trans verse grooves in the faces of the formers to receive the hoop strips, and means for holding a gored sheet of veneer against the faces of the series of formers when in open or extended position and during their movement into closed position.

9. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each conforming on its face to a section of the exterior of a finished barrel, the end portions of each former projecting inwardly and having such portions from the bilge line converging inwardly and toward the ends whereby when the formers are brought into cylindrical arrangement the interior surface conforms to the exterior of the finished barrel.

10. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal. formers each conforming on its face to a section of the exterior of a finished barrel, the end portions of each former projecting inwardly and having such portions from the bilge line converging inwardly and toward the ends whereby when the formers are brought into cylindrical arrangement the interior surface conforms to the exterior of the finished barrel, and means for clamping the series of formers together in cylindrical arrangement.

11. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each conforming on its face to a section of the exterior of a finished barrel, the end portions of each former projecting inwardly and having such portions from the bilge line converging inwardly and toward the ends whereby when the formers are brought into cylindrical arrangement the interior surface conforms to the exterior of the finished barrel, closing blocks having concave faces for connecting the end members of the series of formers when in closed positionaand leaving a space therebetween, and means for clamping the series of formers together with the closing blocks in place in a cylindrical form.

12. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each longitudinally con cave on its face to conform to a section of the exterior of a finished barrel, gripping heads connected to and projecting from the face of each former at each end, end clamps mounted at the side of each end former whereby the sheet of veneer is held in place against the formers between the gripping heads and the end clamps.

13. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of similar longitudinal formers each longitudinally concave on its face to conform to a section of the exterior of a finished barrel, gripping heads connected to and projecting from the face of each former at each end and grooved transversely on their inner faces, end clamps mounted at the side of each end former whereby the sheet of veneer is held in place against the formers between the gripping heads and the end clamps.

14;. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of the barrel, an anvil located within the circle of the formers when secured together and presenting a surface against which the ends of the barrel hoops may be fastened to-' gether.

15. An apparatus for assembling veneer barrels comprising a series of connected formers which when the end members of the series are secured together present a surface conforming to the exterior of the barrel, an anvil located within the circle of the formers when secured together and present ing a surface against which the ends of the barrel hoops may be fastened together, and also presenting a top surface upon which the barrel head is held in position for entering the chime.

WALTER C. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

CHARLOTTE M. SUMNER, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

